PAS at crossroads as it weighs alliances for GE14
(MMO) – After its two by-election defeats, PAS must now decide if it should make up with the other federal opposition parties and combine their strength or go it alone at the next general election due in two years.
The Islamist party won a number of seats in Election 2013 which are now at stake and its leaders are finding themselves in two minds in their next electoral advance.
Some believe there is still room for negotiation with Pakatan Harapan despite the bad blood with DAP and Amanah; but there are others who feel that PAS should strengthen its position as a third political bloc by allying itself with smaller parties and NGOs to further its Islamic agenda.
“I personally admit that without a coalition among opposition parties looks impossible to win against BN but we have to look into this matter in a holistic way,” PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan told Malay Mail Online when contacted.
He said that one way for the opposition to move forward is if all parties agreed that the allocation of seats to be contested in the 14th general election remained the same as in the 2013 general elections.
“There should be a status quo for seats like in GE13, opposition parties should give PAS a chance to contest, even though Pakatan Rakyat is no more.
“If everyone can respect this, there can be a way. I cannot guarantee, but the room for negotiations will be there,” the Kota Baru MP explained.
